be taken for granted, will be likely to terminate in infidelity. This proposition, so reasonable in itself, is abundantly confirmed, as has been already shown, by the state of the Christian world.

Let us, then, Episcopalians, elevate our minds. to the high and momentous duties which are before us. We are under an awful responsibility. Upon us the preservation of the true faith, on this continent, under God, depends. And we shall never fulfil our sacred trust unless our minds be penetrated with a deep sense of the superior excellence of the doctrine and worship of our Church, and with a sincere conviction of the Apostolic claims of her ministry.

Let us never be afraid to proclaim the truth; but let us always endeavour to proclaim it in the spirit of Christian love. Many of those who have separated from us adhere with a noble zeal to the distinguishing doctrines of the cross. They are still our brethren in Christ. We may love their persons, while we strenuously oppose their errors. Adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour by a holy zeal for his truth and his Church, mingled with that spirit of meekness and brotherly affection, without which the most exact conformity to external institutions, or even the most strict adherence to the orthodox faith will profit us nothing; we may hope that the blessing of God will sig

nally crown our labours, and look forward to the period when, Christians being gathered into one fold, the Church shall exhibit the heavenly spectacle of a society at union with itself.

That period of blessedness to the Church, which the Prophets so particularly foretel, will be distinguished, we are taught to believe, by a much more general connexion of Christians in one communion. And the tendency toward this connexion may be expected to increase as the happy period in question shall approach. There are not wanting circumstances, at the present moment, which give reason to hope that the Apostolic Church is about to be greatly enlarged, not only by the extension of her system to regions which are now sunk in the darkness of paganism, but also by the return of many of those who ought never to have been separated from her.* Certain

* The work of converting the Heathen is likely to go on with success in India. From the connexion which subsists between GreatBritain and that country, there is reason to believe that the great body of the Christians of India will be regularly organized upon Episcopal principles. The vast efforts which England is making for the diffusion of Christianity throughout the world, will, probably, assume, more and more, the same primitive direction. The conversion of the Jews has actually commenced. A society, having this object in view, was established, some time since, in London; and has published several annual reports. When converts began to be made to Christianity, it became necessary to organize them into regular congregations. The question presented itself-upon what plan shall the organization proceed? Very much to the honour of the Dissenters who were members of the society, they perceived the propriety of the business being con.

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it is, that the Church differs from what her great Head intended her to be in proportion as she is di

ducted upon the plan of the established Church, and cheerfully assented to it; engaging, at the same time, to continue their patronage of the institution. An event of this kind opens the most delightful prospect to the friends of primitive order and piety.

A national society has lately been established in England for the purpose of educating the whole body of the poor, upon the new system invented by Dr. Bell, in the principles of the established Church. It is proceeding with great zeal and success. Vast sums have been subscribed towards its funds, and there is every reason to believe that it will be able to conduct its operations upon a scale as extensive as its title and constitution imply. There was an addition, during the year ending with June, 1814, of upwards of twenty thousand children to its different schools. Children are admitted into its schools without reference to the religious profession of their parents: it is, however, the established rule of the institution that the children belonging to it shall attend public worship in the national Church; subject to such exceptions, indeed, as the managers may think proper to make in particular cases. Numerous instances have occurred in which the children of Dissenters, being sent to these schools, have attended the Church of England, and, in a little while, have been followed by their parents. In this way the society will, probably, have a very powerful effect in promoting ecclesiastical union. The Church of England, indeed, is rousing herself to the most extended and vigorous exertions. A few years since, the Dissenters appeared to be gaining ground so fast as to threaten ultimately to overwhelm her. The pressure has happily served greatly to augment her zeal, and her efforts. The tide is turned; and the prospect now is, that the Church will draw back a considerable portion of the separatists to her communion.

The Episcopal Church of Scotland is increasing rapidly in numbers and in influence. The same may, certainly, be said of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States. Her progress within the last twenty years has been uncommonly great. In Connecticut she bids fair soon to become the predominant religious society; and in every diocess of the union she is advancing in strength and respectability. The period, also, is approaching when prophecy gives us reason to expect that the Greek Church and the Roman Catholic Church, purified from their errors and corruptions, will return, in a good degree, to the piety of the primitive times. Almost the whole of the Christian world will then be arranged upon the model of the Apostolic Church. Those dissenting societies which have departed from the Apostolic ministry,

vided into hostile societies. It was never the design that altar should be raised against altar. On the contrary, this is forbidden by our Lord in the most express and solemn terms. History, accordingly, will inform us that nothing retarded so much the progress of the Gospel, as the disgraceful sects that sprung up, from time to time, in the primitive Church. And, in every age, the division of Christians into separate and conflicting societies, with the horrible cruelties to which such division has given rise, has contributed more, perhaps, than any other cause, to prevent the ac complishment of the dying prayer of our Lord to his Father" Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe in me through their word: That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: THAT THE WORLD MAY BE

LIEVE THAT THOU HAST SENT ME.

will, probably, diminish in number; some of their members returning to the bosom of the Church, and others going over to Arianism, Socinianism, and open infidelity. So that at the conclusion of the scene, the true Church and the true faith will be closely connected; and schism will be proved to be the undoubted parent of heresy. The whole course of events will lead to the conclusion that the happiness, not less than the duty of man lies in unvarying conformity to the divine law; all departure therefrom never failing, sooner or later, to terminate in confusion and ruin.

St. John, chap. xvii. 20, 21. The prayer of our Lord for the unity of his followers, was offered, we see, upon the express ground that the world might be thus led to believe in his divine mission. Is there not, then, full reason to conclude that the diffusion of Chris

Who will refuse to join in hailing the triumphant period when Christians, embracing each other as members of one fold, shall fulfil the prayer of their Lord? For which blessed purpose, may all prejudice be taken away on one side, all loftiness on the other; and all parties be disposed toward that teachable temper which forms the character of the true followers of the humble and holy Jesus!

tianity throughout the earth, and the return of believers to that Apostolic communion of which they were all required to be members, will, in a great degree, keep pace with one another?